^eckford 



scent ? — Have the hounds made their own cast ? — Now make 

 yours. You see that sheep-dog has coursed the fox ; — 

 get forward with your hounds and make a wide cast. 



Hark ! that halloo is indeed a lucky one. — If we can 

 hold him on, we may yet recover him ; for a fox, so much 

 distressed, must stop at last. We shall now see if they will 

 hunt as well as run ; for there is but little scent, and the 

 impending cloud still makes that little less. How they 

 enjoy the scent ! — see how busy they all are, and how each 

 in his turn prevails ! 



Huntsman ! be quiet. Whilst the scent was good, you 

 pressed on your hounds ; it was well done : when they 

 came to a check, you stood still, and interrupted them not ; 

 they were afterwards at fault ; you made your cast with 

 judgment, and lost no time. You now must let them hunt ; 

 — with such a cold scent as this you can do no good ; they 

 must do it all themselves ; — lift them now, and not a hound 

 will stoop again. — Ha ! a high road, at such a time as this, 

 when the tenderest-nosed hound can hardly own the scent ! 

 Another fault ! That man at work, then, has headed back 

 the fox. Huntsman ! cast not your hounds now, you see 

 they have overrun the scent ; have a little patience, and 

 let them, for once, try back. 



We now must give them time ; — see where they bend 

 towards yonder furze brake. — I wish he may have stopped 

 there ! — Mind that old hound, how he dashes o'er the 

 furze ; I think he winds him. — Now for a fresh entapis ! 

 Hark ! they halloo ! Aye, there he goes. 



117 



